Clamping device



March 31, 1936. c, A, SCHRAFF CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1955 a zwf/ .f", .9? .5

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Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a clamping device and has been designed with special reference for use in connection with the manufacture of scratch pads. It is to be understood that the device is not limited to this particular use but for illustration it will be described in connection therewith.

Broadly stated the object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, low cost clamping -means of the type illustrated and which will be flexible as to its arrangement and efficient in its space requirements while being adaptable to a great variety of arrangements and in connection with supporting surfaces of various kinds. A more specific object is to provide a device of this kind adapted for use in connection with an ordinary table or bench and consisting of uprights adapted to be removably clamped or otherwise secured to such table or bench together with holding elements vertically slidable on such uprights and adapted to clamp and hold a stack of sheets between itself and such table, bench or other supporting surface. A further object is to provide for associating two oppositely extending holding elements with the same uprights whereby the number of uprights required for a given number of stacks of sheets will be reduced and a still further object is to provide such holding elements of knock-down construction and reversible end for end.

Other and more limited objects will become apparent from the following description especially when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view showing the arrangement for holding a plurality of stacks of sheets side by side; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail elevation showing a plurality of uprights and a single holding element in position of use; Fig. 3 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 2 and indicating the relation of the supporting surface or table, the upright and the holding element; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the uprights in section and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the construction of the locking means.

In the drawing, the numeral Ill indicates a table, bench or other suitable supporting surface upon which stacks of sheets I! are adapted to be placed. The uprights I 2 may be secured to the element It) in any manner suitable for ready attachment and removal. While an ordinary friction clamp is indicated at I 3, having sufficient length to place the upright centrally of the stack of sheets, it is to be understood that if desired a reinforcing rib for additional strength may be placed in the angle formed between the upright portion of the element l2 and the upper reach 14 thereof for strengthening the same and that the space between the reach l4 and the clamping element l3 may be considerably greater than indicated and a set screw provided for tightens ing the same against the element Ill. Any desirable mode of attachment of the uprights l2 to the supporting element In may be employed.

Vertically slidable on the uprights are holding elements indicated generally by the numeral l5 and preferably made up from standard angle and bar stock. The holding means may consist of angles I6 provided with longitudinally extending slots I! together with spacing bars [8 interrupted centrally to receive the uprights l2 together with exterior plates 19 secured to the spacing bars l8 and the upright portions of the angle l6 by any suitable means such as rivets 20. The spacing bars l8 are provided adjacent. the uprights l2 with cut-out portions 2| adapted to receive eccentric locking elements 22 which are journaled eccentrically on pins 23 each of which is provided with a bent over handle portion 24. It is to be understood that the eccentrics 22 are non-rotatable with respect to the pins 23 and so positioned that upward motion of the holding elements l5 will tend to rotate the same into tighter engagement with the uprights l2. It will be understood that the pins 23 are journaled in the exterior plates l9 and the vertical portions of the angles I6. Connected to the horizontal portions of the angles l6 by bolts or projections extending through the slots I! are connecting members 25. The bolts or projections 26 which extend through the slots l1 and connect the members 25 thereto are preferably threaded and provided with wing nuts for holding the same in any adjusted position along the slots [1. It will be clearthat the connectors 25 may be positioned at any desired points along the slots I! in order to accommodate sheets of different dimensions and that more than two of the same may be employed if desired. It will also be obvious, especially from Fig. 4, that the holding elements l5 are reversible end for end and that they are of knock-down construction which permits of disassembling the entire device for storage in a small space. It will be evident from Fig. 1 that two of the holding elements, extending inv opposite directions, may be received on the same upright l2 and that, where substantially the same heights of stacks are positioned adjacent each other, a block 01' filler 21 may be inserted underneath one stack 1. In combination, a support, a series of uprights removably secured to said support, the.-

latter having a flat supporting surface adapted to support stacks of sheets between said uprights,

a plurality of holding elements, each. having spaced clamping devices, each of said clamping devices receiving one of said uprights, said clamp ing devices adapted to engage said uprights to resist upward motion of said holding elements with respect to said uprights, one of said uprights receiving two oppositely extending holding elements. V

2. A clamping device comprising, in combination, a plurality of uprights adapted to be readily removably clamped to a supporting element at any point therealong and a holding element having portions adapted to receive said uprights and slidable up and down thereon, said holding means being provided with locking means adapted to hold said holding means against upward motion with respect to said uprights, said holding elements being made up of transverse members slidable on said uprights and connecting members connected toand adjustable longitudinally of said transverse members.

' 3. In combination, a support, aseries of uprights removably secured to said support, the latter having a flat supporting surface adapted 40 tosupport stacks of sheets between said uprights,

a plurality of holding elements, each having spaced means receiving two of said uprights and locking means adapted to engage said uprights to resist upward motion of said holding elements with respect to said uprights, one of said uprights receiving two oppositely extending holding elements, said holding elements being made up of transverse members slidable on said uprights and connecting members connected to and adjustable longitudinally of said transverse members.

4. A clamping device comprising, in combination, a. plurality of uprights adapted to be readily removably clamped to a supporting element at any point therealong and holding elements having portions adapted to receive said uprights and slidable up and down thereon, said holding elements, each being provided with locking means adapted to hold them against upward motion with respect to said uprights, said holding elements being made up of transverse members vertically slidable on said uprights and provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof, connecting members: and means slidable in said slots for holding said connecting members in any adjusted position along said slots.

5.. In combination, asupport, a series of uprights. removably" secured to. said support, the latter having a flat supporting surface adapted to support stacks of sheetsbetween said uprights, a plurality of holding elements, each having spaced means receiving two of said uprights and locking. means adapted to. engage said uprightsto.- resist upward motion of said holding elements with; respect to said uprights, one of said uprights receiving two oppositely extending holding elements, said; holding elements being made up of transverse. members vertically slidable on said uprights and provided with slots extending longitudinally thereof, connecting members and means slidable in said slots for holding said connecting membersin'any adjusted position along said slots.

CHARLES A. SCHRAFF. 

